Cargill has announced that it will close its Milwaukee, Wis., beef harvest facility, which employs approximately 600 people, effective at the close of business, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. The closure of the facility results primarily from the tight cattle supply brought about by producers retaining cattle for herd expansion. The ground beef plant at the site will remain open to meet customer needs, employing approximately 200 people. Cargill's six other U.S. beef harvest plants are unaffected.

Cargill purchased the beef harvest plant in 2001, and it has a processing capacity of 1,300 to 1,400 animals daily. For the more than 600 people impacted at the plant, Cargill will be offering opportunities to fill positions at other company locations in the region. Those who relocate to positions at other Cargill facilities will receive assistance. For displaced employees, Cargill will provide support, including a job fair in Milwaukee the week of August 4.

"Closing our Milwaukee beef plant is taking place only after we conducted an 18-month-long analysis of the region's cattle supply and examined all other possible options," said John Keating, president of Cargill Beef, based in Wichita, Kan. "It is unfortunate that we must close any beef plant because of the impact to good people, their families, and the community. The harsh reality is that the U.S. beef cattle herd is at its lowest level since 1951, with any significant herd expansion being years away."

Cargill will continue to honor its community commitments in Milwaukee through the end of calendar year 2014. The company's six remaining U.S. beef processing plants are located in California, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania.